The Chargers got their first real dose of good news on the practice field as they began preparing for Sunday’s season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
Los Angeles is coming out of the preseason with only a few injury concerns, and the biggest one remains the season-ending knee injury to starting center Tyler Biadasz, which he suffered during joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers. Offensive lineman Branson Taylor is also set to begin the season on injured reserve with a designated to return label.
But the first practice of the 2026 season brought two encouraging returns. Running back Keaton Mitchell and wide receiver Brenen Thompson were both back on the field after missing multiple practices, a welcome development for a team that has been managing bumps and bruises carefully all summer.
Mitchell’s situation had been the more worrisome of the two. There had been real uncertainty about whether he might land on injured reserve, especially given the way the injury had been described and the lack of clear information around it. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said Mitchell suffered a setback, which only added to the concern.
Still, general manager Joe Hortiz pushed back on the idea that the injury was major. After roster cutdown day, Hortiz said Mitchell was working through something but didn’t sound alarmed, and he pointed to the team’s decision not to place him on injured reserve as a sign of where things stood.
Chargers GM Joe Hortiz said he doesn't expect RB Keaton Mitchell to go on IR and anticipates him playing Week 1: “That’s what he’s working for. Yeah. He’s working through something, but nothing [major] Let's put it this way: we could put him down on IR today like we did with…
Mitchell matters because of what he brings to the offense. As a speed threat out of the backfield, he creates problems for linebackers, and Justin Herbert showed no hesitation about getting him involved in training camp. His return gives the Chargers another dangerous layer to their offense.
Thompson’s return is just as important in a different way. The rookie wideout’s speed changes the geometry of the field, forcing defenses to account for the deep ball and opening space underneath. That can help the run game, and it can also create more room for other receivers to turn catches into bigger gains.
With both players back, the Chargers suddenly have a little more breathing room as they head into a demanding early stretch. They open with the Cardinals, then move into a run that starts with division rival Las Vegas in Week 2 and runs through Week 10, when they face former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and the Baltimore Ravens.
For now, though, the main takeaway is simple: the Chargers are healthier than they looked a few days ago, and their offense just got a little more dangerous.
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For Los Angeles, that adds another layer to a matchup that already figures to draw plenty of attention in September. The Cardinals still plan to release their official injury report later in the week, so the final answer is not in yet, but Loves status is now something the Chargers have to factor into their Week 1 planning. If he is cleared, Arizonas backfield depth gets a boost right when the season starts to tighten up. [Read more 🡒]